Beginning Monday, March 14, all CPS schools will move to a mask-optional model for students and staff. Read the letter to families from CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.
ENGLISH | SPANISH
COVID-19 Mitigation Measures
CPS is working to align to the CDC and CDPH guidance related to COVID-19 mitigation measures. The following are the key changes for this school year:
- Close contacts will no longer be excluded from school. Any student or staff member who is exposed to COVID-19 in school — regardless of vaccination status — will no longer be required to learn or work from home for five days, but will be required to wear a mask in school for 10 days following exposure, and will be strongly encouraged to test three and five days after exposure. CPS will provide schools with rapid take-home tests to distribute to families and staff members if they are exposed, and we will strongly encourage families to use them in order to prevent spread and ensure a safe in-person learning environment.
- Case investigations will continue. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days. Cases should continue to be reported to cps.edu/covidresults.
- Wearing a mask is still an important way to prevent spreading the virus to others. CPS will continue to strongly recommend masking in school, and masks will continue to be required in the following situations:
- On days 6-10 after testing positive for COVID-19
- If someone is exposed to COVID-19
- If there is a positive case identified in an elementary school classroom
- If a high school student or staff member is notified that they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
- At the direction of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
- On days 6-10 after testing positive for COVID-19
- Vaccination is still the most important way to protect yourself from severe illness, and CPS will continue to offer vaccine events throughout the city to help families and staff get vaccinated. This webpage cps.edu/vaccinations contains important information about vaccines and opportunities for families and staff to make a vaccine appointment. Vaccines are safe, effective, free, and widely available to all Chicagoans over six months of age.
COLOR SCHOOL TESTING PROTOCOL
- If parents would like for their child to be tested for COVID-19, they should visit color.com/readycheckgo-cps to sign up their child for weekly COVID-19 testing.
- The company Color usually comes to Prussing on a Monday. If the day changes, the school will contact parents via email.
- On the day of testing, an announcement is made over the intercom that the Color team is in the building.
- Registered students are escorted to the testing room.
- The student is tested and also provided a barcode on a Ready Check Go Testing Program Card.
- The company Color informs parents by email and text when the COVID-19 results are ready.
- If a student tests positive for COVID, parents should report the result to cps.edu/covidresults
Accessible resources and transparent timely data are essential to mitigating COVID-19’s impact on our district. Find critical information on vaccinations, testing, case data, and more below. We all play a role in keeping the school safe.
Starting February 1, 2022, CPS is moving from a 10-day quarantine/isolation period to a 5-day quarantine/isolation period for students and staff members who either test positive for COVID-19, or unvaccinated students and staff who are exposed. Below please find a full suite of updated materials in both English and Spanish for you to use. Please visit cps.edu/isolationguidance for more detail.
Vaccination |
Testing |
Reporting & Tracking |
Entering School |
Keeping Schools Safe |
COVID-19 Vaccination Students and families can make a vaccination appointment at a CPS school-based site. The vaccine is free for all and no proof of insurance nor citizenship is required. LEARN MORE |
ReadyCheckGo Testing Program Register for COVID-19 testing at CPS schools. Testing is available for staff, students, and parents or guardians. REGISTER |
COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form Individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical professional should use this form to report their diagnosis. VIEW FORM |
Daily Health Screener CPS families and staff should review these screening questions before leaving home for school each day. VIEW HEALTH SCREENER |
Safe Learning Environment Learn about the district’s plan to mitigate pandemic-related risks, including health and safety policies and procedures. VIEW PLAN |
Find Vaccination Sites Search our map to find convenient COVID-19 vaccine sites located in CPS buildings. VIEW MAP |
School-based COVID-19 Testing Helping families and staff access COVID-19 testing is critical to keeping our community healthy and safe. LEARN MORE |
COVID-19 Data View data about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the district and its community. VIEW DATA |
Travel Guidance View the latest travel guidance from public health officials for international and domestic travel. VIEW GUIDANCE |
Safety Best Practices During COVID-19, families and staff should make every effort to adhere to these safety best practices. VIEW BEST PRACTICES |
Community Pediatric Testing Search our map and database of verified pediatric COVID-19 testing sites in the Chicago area. VIEW SITES |
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School-Based Testing FAQ Find answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 testing at CPS. VIEW FAQ |